REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director Planning and Development Department PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director Planning and Development Department BY: ERIKA LOPEZ, Senior Management Analyst, Housing and Community Development Division SUBJECT ..Title Approve the Emergency Solutions-Coronavirus (ESG-CV) Grant agreement between the City of Fresno and Gracebound Inc. in the amount of $185,000 for the operation of mobile showers. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council approve the agreement between the City of Fresno and Gracebound for the operation of two mobile shower trailers to provide people experiencing homelessness a sanitary facility to take care of their hygienic needs while avoiding potential spread of COVID-19 and authorize the City Manager or designee to sign all necessary implementing agreements as approved to form by the City Attorney. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City Council previously approved the reallocation of ESG-CV funds in order to meet the ESG-CV 100% expenditure deadline of September 30, 2023. The reallocation of ESG-CV would fund various activities including mobile shower operations. The agreement would provide $185,000 in ESG-CV for the term of January 01, 2023 through September 30, 2023 for mobile shower operations. BACKGROUND On June 18, 2020, City Council approved a resolution requesting ESG-CV funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the prevention, preparation for, and response to coronavirus, among individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance, and to support additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts created by coronavirus. In total, the City received two installments of ESG-CV funding amounting to $10,948,953.00. On June 18, 2020, February 18, 2021, and June 24, 2021 City Council approved allocations of ESG-CV funds for Fresno County, a deposit assistance program, a vaccine clinic, emergency shelter operations, and various Outreach Services. However, some of the providers returned unexpended ESG-CV funds to the City that required reprogramming to ensure the ESG-CV 100% expenditure deadline of September 30, 2023 was met. On August 18, 2022, City Council approved an additional reprograming of ESG-CV funds from projects that had not fully expended funds during the terms of the contracts. The reprograming of ESG-CV funds allocated dollars to street outreach, emergency shelter operations, and mobile showers. In September 2022, the City entered into a month-to-month agreement not to exceed $50,000 with Gracebound to operate the City's mobile showers on a temporary basis while the City went through a request for proposals (RFP) process. During the term of the agreement, Gracebound has provided mobile shower services to 342 unsheltered individuals. On October 31, 2022, the City released a request for proposals (RFP) for mobile shower operations which closed on November 22, 2022. The City received one proposal from Gracebound, a Fresno based 501(C)(3) that serves homeless individuals within the city with street outreach services including the provision of food, clothing, hygiene products, and showers. On November 29, 2022, Gracebound's proposal was reviewed by an evaluation committee consisting of two staff members from the Homeless Services and Community Development Divisions within the Planning and Development Department and one representative from a non-profit homeless services provider. After review and consideration, the evaluation committee recommended Gracebound for award. Staff's recommendation will be presented to the City Council Homelessness Subcommittee on December 12, 2022. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS This is not a project for purposes of CEQA pursuant to CEQA guidelines Section 15378. These plans, strategies and studies are Categorically Excluded Not Subject to Section 58.5 Pursuant to 24 CFR Part 58.34(a) and 58.35(b) under HUD NEPA Requirements (24 CFR 58.35 (b) (2) (3)). LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference is not applicable because of the use of federal funding. FISCAL IMPACT The agreement will be funded through the City's ESG-CV allocations ATTACHMENTS: Agreement with Gracebound